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Patrick Svitek was the primary political correspondent for The Texas Tribune. Patrick covered elections, state leaders, the Legislature and political trends across the state from 2015 until 2024. He previously worked for the Houston Chronicle's Austin bureau. Patrick graduated in 2014 from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He is originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Former state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer is being endorsed by 17 sitting lawmakers in his campaign to return to the Texas House — and to unseat Rep. Diana Arévalo, a fellow San Antonio Democrat. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott is wading deeper into the state House Republican primaries, endorsing a challenger to state Rep. Wayne Faircloth, R-Galveston. Full Story
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Chris Evans, who is challenging state Rep. J.D. Sheffield in the Republican primary, pleaded guilty in 2001 to making a pipe bomb. "Growing up, I blew up tree stumps recreationally," he told the Tribune. Full Story
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After the national spotlight shined bright on Texas politics last year — with a wild presidential race that drew in the state and its leaders — 2017 brought a focus much closer to home. Full Story
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Attorney General Ken Paxton has clarified that licensed handgun owners can bring their weapons to church as long as the church does not say otherwise — a question raised after the deadly church shooting last month in Sutherland Springs. Full Story
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Embattled U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, will not appear on the 2018 primary ballot after a late push by the state Republican Party to keep him off. Full Story
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The state's highest criminal court agreed Wednesday to intervene in prosecutors' long-running fight to get paid for their handling of the securities fraud case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story
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Ruth Jones McClendon, the former longtime state representative from San Antonio, has died. She was 74. Full Story
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The Texas GOP is suing the Texas secretary of state to keep embattled U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold off the 2018 primary ballot — one day after he announced he will not seek re-election in 2018. Full Story
A top lawyer in Attorney General Ken Paxton's office has resigned following a report about a comment he made on social media belittling the recent flood of women who have come forward with sexual misconduct allegations. Full Story
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